The Los Angeles Lakers have vaulted into third place in the Western Conference after winning eight of nine games dating back to Feb. 28, 2026. The club’s current five-game streak features victories over the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and defending champion Denver Nuggets.
During that nine-game span, the Lakers own the league’s No. 3 offense, No. 8 defense and the second-best net rating. With 15 contests remaining, head coach JJ Redick said he likes the direction of his roster.
“I think it feels like we’re coalescing right now in a really nice way,” Redick told reporters, adding that the team still has “a long way to go” but that he is “certainly optimistic with how we handled this stretch of games.”
LeBron James, back after missing three games, has balanced his scoring with facilitating for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Newly acquired guard Marcus Smart and center Deandre Ayton have also delivered key minutes, giving Redick a deeper rotation than he relied on during last year’s playoffs.
Los Angeles can widen its cushion in the standings with two upcoming meetings against the Houston Rockets. Inside the locker room, players and coaches remain cautious, mindful that another early postseason exit would be a major setback.
James said the Lakers still study Denver’s “championship DNA” and view the Nuggets’ approach as a model to emulate.
Source: Lakers Nation
